Mike Hindson-Evans

Nice go-around; but I always consider it advisable to inform the "self-loading cargo" as to what is about to happen. You'll still get one whinger, but it reduces the volume.
Farewell Air Berlin, and thank you for many safe flights to the Fatherland.

I still like the Southwest airlines advertising response, inspired by this lamentable United incident:
"We beat the competition, not you"
What were these thugs thinking - they managed to get even America a bad name.
...lights blue touch paper and retires......

At least there is a vehicle within the organisation for staff (or "resources") to express their frustrations. The most important part of ANY change process is to ensure communication. Ignore the "mushrooms" and they will bite back.
With the "race to the bottom" between airlines, there is always a search for cheaper options. I'd like to see the final balance sheet for BA's "outsource savings from the IT move" versus "lost of business and goodwill from the total IT failure".
Mike

I remember the South African Airways pilot demonstrating the Airbus A340 at Farnborough in 200 - graceful, inspiring and "I didn't think an airliner could do THAT!"
I also remember Boeing being told to take their new Dreamliner away after breaking the display rules at Farnborough in 2014 on the first day of display flying.
Displaying airliners at airshows always inspires the public; so long as you're not flying a Tu-144 over Paris in 1973 and trying to outfly a Concorde.......
Mike

I have enjoyed flying the 777 since 1998, I particularly remember sitting in Business First on a Continental Airlines 777 in 2000, gazing in awe as the huge maw of a GE-90 generated a "doughnut" of condensation as it sucked in huge volumes of air to generate the lift.
I do still miss the upstairs cabin of a 747 though, which is why British Airways (who fly large fleets of both types) gives me the best combination of flying experiences.
Mike

Actually Art, I reckon the "Airbus spin" on this hits the nail on the head:
“It seems to be clear that Boeing is doing all it can to maintain the status-quo from which it has illegally profited for all these years. Airbus looks forward to the day that this ridiculous dispute can be put to bed and we can focus our full attention on investing in further innovation and engaging in healthy competition,”
Yes, I live on the eastern side of The Pond.
Mike

Oh dear; and this in the month when the Russians launched the MC-21, The Chinese announced a longer-term plan to launch an airliner, and Embraer continue to deliver airliners which their customers (and airline passengers) want. Leaving aside the airbus factories (including one now on American soil in Mobile, Alabama) which continue to churn out airliners.
When will our transatlantic cousins realise that trying to hobble the aerospace industry of their "friends in the North" might have unintended consequences - and will not halt the march of globalisation (which America pioneered, and should be proud of)? No-one likes a school-yard bully.
I repeat my view that "competition improves the breed"
Mike